Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 17:28:22 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Robert Ueltzen Harsh suspension
In-Reply-To: <oM9e1p01408X5Fr01M9iK5>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Well, the horse isn't dead, but badly crippled.
The reason for the high tire pressures that VW lists for the Vanagon is to do with the weight of the vehicle and the ability of the tires to support that weight. If you have stock tires and run at lower pressures than recommended, the tires are not doing their important job of holding up the vehicle, keeping it safe in cornering, and so on. Besides that, the tires will wear out sooner and the vehicle will deliver lower gas mileage.
mcneely
---- Stan Shapiro <mail@STANSHAPIRO.COM> wrote:
> To: Robert Ueltzen
> I am curious if you have solved your suspension problem. My westy rides the same--minor washboard dirt roads are impossible, and I too, feel every crack in the road. I see that gowesty springs are on sale, and I was considering a set. I have new Michelin tires and bilstien shocks from gowesty.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> stan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stan Shapiro [mailto:mail@stanshapiro.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 1:46 PM
> To: 'Robert Ueltzen'
> Subject: RE: Harsh suspension
>
> I increased my tire pressure to 44 based on all of the comments on this site--and my westy road the same as you describe yours. Then I went in for an oil change, and they routinely dropped the pressure down to 36--so i left it at that just to experiment -- huge improvement in the ride. I suggest you drop the tire pressure for a couple of days, and compare the ride--cant hurt. If you don’t see any difference, then just bump them back up to 40 and 50. I have left mine at 36 in spite of all of the suggestions on wetwesties.
>
> ss
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Robert Ueltzen
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 11:19 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Harsh suspension
>
> I have a 1987 Wolfsburg edition with 202,000 miles.
>
> Here’s my problem. For a couple of years, my van has ridden like it has no springs. Every little road seam rattles the car and jars my fillings loose. The tires are Hankook RA08 185R14C with 40 PSI front and 50 PSI rear. They have about 10,000 miles on them. The change in tires had no
> effect on the suspension compliance. Last summer I replaced the original
> shocks with Bilstein HD and all the bushings and ball joints in the suspension. This had no effect on the suspension compliance.
>
> I feel like I am down to the spring replacement as the last element that
> could improve the suspension compliance. Can coil springs become
> work-hardened through years of use and lose their elasticity? If so, any
> recommendations for a source of good replacements? The 87 Wolfsburg has the short springs like the later Carat. I do my driving on California streets and highways.
>
> Rob Ueltzen
> 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon
> TIICO Conversion
--
David McNeely
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